Distribution:Neotropical. Central MEXICO south through Central America and eastern South America to northern ARGENTINA; uncommon west of the Andes. more....

Subspecies: 2 races. S. t. serus: Central MEXICO south through humid Central America to COLOMBIA east to the GUIANAS, TRINIDAD, northern and western BRAZIL, and south to PARAGUAY and northeastern ARGENTINA; some records west of the Andes in ECUADOR and PERU; S. t. tyrannus: Eastern and southeastern BRAZIL and extreme northeastern ARGENTINA. (Misiones).

Taxonomy: Authors as recently as Swann (1922) regarded this species as a color phase of S. ornatus. The recent molecular studies of Helbig et al. (2005) Lerner and Mindell (2005), Gamauf et al. (2005), and Haring et al. (2007), based on DNA sequences of both mitochondrial and nuclear genes, indicated that S. ornatus and S. tyrannus are not each other's closest relatives and that the former is more closely related to Spizaetus (Spizastur) melanoleucus and Spizaetus (Oroaetus) isidori than to S. tyrannus. However, they recommended retaining both species in the genus Spizaetus along with the other two New World hawk-eagles. Helbig et al. (op cit.) advocated separating the more distantly related Asian hawk-eagle species into a different genus, Nisaetus. Gamauf et al. (op cit.) suggested placing this species in a separate, monotypic genus, Ptenura, to recognize its differences from the other Spizaetus species.

Movements: Irruptive or local migrant (Bildstein 2006).

Habitat and Habits: Occurs in lowlands and foothills, frequenting gallery forest, but also occurring more often in disturbed forest, forest edges, late second-growth, and semi-open areas than S. ornatus. Soars frequently in the morning over the canopy or even nearby open areas, vocalizing loudly. It usually perches rather low in trees, apparently waiting in ambush before moving on to another stopping place (Slud 1964). more....

Food and Feeding Behavior: Feeds mostly on mammals (marmosets, squirrels, and opossums), but also on birds (chachalacas, macaws, toucans), large lizards and snakes. Hunts by flying from tree to tree, listening or looking for prey, then pursuing it in rapid chases. more....

Breeding: The nest is a large platform of sticks placed in a dense tangle of vines several meters from the main trunk of a large tree. The female incubates and attends the young, and the male delivers food to her, which she provides to the chick. Clutch size is 1 egg, which is white and unmarked. The nestling period at one Guatemalan nest was 71 days (Funes et al. 1992). more....

Conservation: Generally regarded as more common than the Ornate Hawk-eagle, possibly because it tends to occur nearer human settlements and may therefore be recorded more often. It may be more tolerant of human disturbance and habitat alteration than the Ornate Hawk-eagle, but still doubtless suffers from habitat loss and shooting. Categorized as a species of Least Concern by BirdLife International. more....

Population Estimates: Ferguson-Lees and Christie (2001) esimated the global population, including all adults and immatures at the start of the breeding season, in the range of 100,101 to 1,000,000 individuals. BirdLife International (2009) estimated that the total population of mature birds is more likely in the range of 20,000 to 49,999 individuals.